July OWH Wellness Watch

       OWH Wellness Watch

                        Across the Lifespan ~ Across Indiana

 
July Newsletter

Having Your Sun and Being Safe Too!

UV Safety Month
Summer is here and so is the sun. As many Hoosiers are making plans to hit the beach, fire up the grill or attend an Indian’s game, it is important to remember to always protect one’s skin and eyes while having fun in the sun. July is one of the hottest and sunniest months of the year, and for this reason, July is recognized as UV Safety Month. By observing UV Safety Month you can help remind people of the dangers of overexposure to the sun. 
In the United States, 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually; making it the most common form of cancer. Skin cancer, however, is not the only problem caused by overexposure to the sun; too much sun can cause other problems like premature aging and blinding vision problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Furthermore, medical conditions such as lupus can be made worse due to overexposure to the sun.
Most people recognize the importance of sun protection during the warm and sunny months, but sun protection is essential year round.  Every day, even on the cloudy days, ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage. The sand, water and snow can reflect UV rays and increase the amount of sun that can reach your skin and eyes. Typically, the hours between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) are the most hazardous time for UV exposure in the continental United States.
Although everyone is at risk of UV damage due to prolonged sun exposure, those that have light skin, freckles, red or blonde hair, or blue or green eyes are most at risk. In addition, people who take certain medications such as antibiotics, birth control pills, anti-depressants and diuretics are extremely sensitive to the sun.
How to Protect Your Skin and Eyes
According to the American Academy of Dermatology and American Academy of Ophthalmology, you can still enjoy the sun and decrease your risk of wrinkles, skin cancer and vision problems by adhering to these simple rules:
Seek shade the hours between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the time when the UV rays are the strongest, so find an umbrella, a tree or shelter when possible.
Apply sunscreen.  UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure to use a broad-spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. Make sure you apply it to all exposed areas including the ears. Don’t forget to apply a generous amount and reapply every two hours, and after swimming or heavy sweating.
Wear protective clothing. Opt for loose-fitting, long sleeve shirts and long pants from tightly woven fabrics. They offer the best protection from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays.
Wear a hat. Choose a wide-brimmed canvas hat that covers your face, ears and the back of your neck. Avoid straw hats because they have holes that allow sunlight to penetrate through.
Wear sunglasses. When buying sunglasses, make sure they block at least 99 percent of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. It is also important to remember that just because the sunglasses’ lens are darker or may cost more does not make the sunglasses more protective. Try to purchase sunglasses that are loose-fitting and have large lenses that wraparound. They provide the best protection.
Use precaution near water, snow and sand. The water, snow and sand can reflect the sun’s UV rays and intensify its damaging effects.
Check the UV index. Before heading out, it is important to check the UV index. A UV index of 11+ is considered extreme, which means to avoid sun exposure, wear hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen every two hours. To find out what the UV index is in your area, check with your local weather stations.
Protect your children. One blistering sunburn in childhood can double a person's risk of skin cancer later in life.
Avoid the tanning beds. Tanning beds have been linked to three of the most common skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Studies have shown tanning beds increase skin cancer risk over time, meaning that the more you use them the higher your risk of skin cancer. Go With Your Own Glow is an organization that encourages women to love and protect their own skin, regardless of their natural hue.

So enjoy the sun, but be sun smart and reduce your health risk!

July Newsletter

Tennis, Anyone?

Looking for a great way to get in shape, reduce stress, lower your blood pressure AND have fun? Then look no further than your local tennis court! Tennis has been shown to offer a multitude of physical and psychological health benefits. It is considered one of the best activities for a healthy heart and a half hour of singles tennis burns more calories than a rowing machine, stationary bike, yoga or golf. Tennis is a full body workout that targets the core, the arms and the legs with each swing or sprint to the ball. Some of the psychological benefits of tennis include stress reduction and the opportunity to socialize. Just imagine how much stress relief you would feel smacking a hard forehand over the net!
Now we’ve convinced you of the health benefits of tennis, but maybe you’re thinking tennis is just too hard to learn. This is not true as tennis is considered a sport for a lifetime, because it can be played at any age and at any ability. There are numerous websites, videos and books available to teach you how to play, but all you really need to know is how to swing a racquet!  And consider this: the more balls that go sailing over the fence or onto the other courts, the more opportunity you have to run and retrieve them. It’s like bonus exercise!
Also forget the notion that tennis is cost prohibitive! All that is required to begin playing is a tennis racquet, tennis balls, some loose-fitting clothes and tennis shoes. Of course, the tennis racquets used by the pros can be expensive, but you can find quality tennis racquets for as little as $15 and tennis balls between $2-$3 for a can of three. And you don’t have to join a tennis club to play; tennis courts are located all around your community! Many local parks, apartment complexes and schools have tennis courts available for free community use. Visit the Tennis Welcome Center website to find a court near you.
If you’re still not convinced, check out the U.S. Open from August 27-September 9. Watching the professionals and seeing what great shape they’re in always inspires me to pick up my racquet. And this year, if you look closely at the top of the stands in Arthur Ashe Stadium, you just might see OWH’s own Katie Jones cheering on her favorite professional women players!
=============

Health Reform and Women's Preventive Health Services

The Affordable Care Act, recently upheld by the Supreme Court, includes some important benefits for women of all ages, both that are guaranteed to go into effect in the coming years and additional provisions which have already significantly improved women's health.
The law was signed in March 2010, and many provisions went immediately into effect, like the Patient's Bill of Rights, protecting consumers from some of the insurance industry's egregious abuses. New rules went into effect preventing insurers from being able to deny coverage to children under age 19 due to a pre-existing condition. Companies were also prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays and were forbidden from searching for errors in customers' applications as a way to use the error to deny coverage when a patient was sick.
The law also immediately required new health plans after September 23, 2010, to cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies and vaccinations without charging a deductible, co-pay or co-insurance when delivered by a network provider. Regular well-baby and well-child visits are also covered from birth through age 21.  The prescription drug "donut hole" gap was also remedied by providing the four million seniors to hit the Medicare gap a one-time tax free rebate check. Also, plans are no longer able to ignore consumers with pre-existing conditions (older Americans aged 55-64 are most likely to have pre-existing conditions) and in 2014 all insurance companies must provide new coverage options to these individuals. Additionally, under the law's provisions young adults may stay under their parents' plan until they turn 26, with certain exceptions (estimates suggest approximately 3.1 million young adults gained insurance coverage through passage of this provision and it doesn't matter if the young adult is married, a student, living with their parent or a financial dependent).
For more information on the types of preventive services that will now be covered, there is a fact sheet available at: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/regulations/womensprevention.html
In 2014, all individual and small employer markets will be prohibited from charging higher rates due to gender. Prior to the law's passage, a 22 year old woman could be charged 150% the premium a 22 year old man paid.
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling did give Indiana the option not to expand its Medicaid program, by striking down the part of the law that would have allowed the federal government to withhold all Medicaid funding for any state that did not expand its Medicaid programs. It will be a choice for the new Governor in January 2013, whether to opt out of the law's Medicaid mandate. 

We have 209 Twitter Followers and the numbers are growing! We'd love to make you our next fan! Email the OWH at mmcgill@isdh.in.gov and tell us what you would most like to be kept informed of and your voice will be listened to!

*Find us at @INpublichealth

SAVE THE DATE!  Friday, December 7th, 2012: Healthy Women, Healthy Hoosiers Conference, Year 2

~FACT SHEET ON STATE'S SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK AND STATE PLAN NOW AVAILABLE AT: http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/PH_Fact_Sheet.pdf

July 2012

July 1-31

July 1-31: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month observance is to promote mental health awareness in diverse communities. Although mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the United States, many people with diagnosable mental illnesses never seek treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), racial and ethnic minorities are even less likely to not seek treatment. Learn more about mental health treatment and resources by visiting: http://www.nami.org/ 
July 28: World Hepatitis Day observance is to promote awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis. Nearly 500 million people are living with hepatitis and approximately one million people die each year. Join the fight to prevent hepatitis by visiting: World Health Organization
July Newsletter
=============
=============

Upcoming Events

July 9-13: "Fit for School"  Free health fair sponsored by MDwise and the Raphael Health Center to ensure every youth in central Indiana receive the services necessary before returning to school and beginning fall sports. Immunizations, lead, anemia, vision, obesity and dental screenings will be available. Raphael Health Center, 401 E 34th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205. For more information, contact 317-926-1507. 
 July 14: The Little Red Door Cancer Agency's Big Red Bash is a free community event at Military Park from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Take part in free health screenings, food demos and help break the World record for the largest Zumba class. For further information, or to register for the Zumba event, visit www.littlereddoor.org/big-red-bash
July 14: "On Target Clinics"  sponsored by the Center for Leadership Development to help reduce incidents of chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension and obestiy within areas of the city. The clinic is free. There will be screenings offered, as well as other health care services provided and follow-up. Time: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. For more information, please call 317-690-5532.
July 15: Indiana Cure SMA Walk N Roll at the home of the Indianapolis Indians!  Attend a baseball game while contributing to a good cause! The Indianapolis Indians are sponsoring the Indianapolis Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) fundraiser. Buy a $10 ticket and the Indians will donate $5 to SMA. Time: 1 p.m.- 4 p.m., Victory Field. For more information, call 317-410-6599.
July 15 and July 20: The Indiana AIDS Fund and The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis is hosting a benefit performance of the musical "Rent," at the Footlite Musical theater:  1847 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. By purchasing a ticket for one of the two performances, 25% of the ticket price will be donated to the Indiana AIDS Fund. Sunday, July 15: 8 p.m. Friday, July 20: 2:30 p.m. Ticket cost: $20.00. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.footlite.org/57/rent/?s=i#iaf
July 16: Women, Wisdom & Wellness will host a preview event at St. Vincent WFYI's Reuben Community Room. Complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. The event is free, but RSVPs are required. Call 317- 715-2009 to reserve your space today.
July 19-22: 2012 INShape Indiana Black and Minority Health Fair, the Indianapolis Convention Center, Hall D. This year's health fair theme "Rethink, Reset, Restart Your Health," encourages the public to pause and consider how their choices impact their health. Free multiple health screenings will be available, including glucose, cholesterol, syphilis, a screening for kidney disease and many more! The health fair dates are:
  • July 19: 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.
  • July 20: 1 p.m.- 8 p.m.
  •  July 21:10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
  • July 22: 12 p.m.- 6 p.m.
For more information, please call 317-233-7685.
July 23: Be The Match: Bounce Bash sponsored by Indiana Blood Center. Show your support and help raise funds to add many more Hoosiers to the National Bone Marrow Registry. Preregistration and signature of a waiver are required. To preregister, call Amanda at 317-916-5211 or e-mail Angela at atouseull@indianablood.org
July 24: "Be Your Best." Join personal trainer Basia Gentry for easy and practical advice that can help you lose wieght, live longer and look younger. Time: 12 p.m.- 1 p.m. Carmel Total Fitness, 820 City Center Drive, Carmel In 46032. Limited space available. For more information, call 317-580-8111.
Aug 3: Indiana Rural Health Association is offering a leadership seminar at the French Lick Resort, 8670 West State Road, French Lick, IN 47432 from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. For information or to register, please contact Tina Elliott at 812-478-3919 ext. 222 or email telliott@indianarha.org
Aug 23: 14th Annual Family Fun Filled Back to School Carnival Celebration from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. IPS #110 (Julian Coleman), 1740 E. 30th Street. For more information, contact Sheryl Wise 317-250-4879.
Oct 15: Indiana State Department of Health is hosting a Community Health Worker Symposium 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.   Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis. To register, please contact Andrea Priest at apriest@isdh.in.gov or call 317-233-7816.
=============
July Newsletter

Saving Berries from Molding

Berries are delicious, but they're also kind of delicate. Raspberries in particular seem like they can mold before you even get them home from the market. There's nothing more tragic than paying $4 for a pint of local raspberries, only to look in the fridge the next day and find that fuzzy mold growing on their insides.     
Well, with fresh berries just starting to hit farmers markets, we can tell you how to prevent them from getting moldy: wash them with vinegar. When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain (rinse if you want, though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar) and pop in the fridge. The vinegar kills any mold spores or other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit. And voila! Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.   
So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.

     You're so berry welcome!

July Newsletter

Blueberries are in season. Check out this easy recipe!

Vanilla Blueberry Parfait

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
  •   2 cup vanilla pie filling 
  •  2/3 cup whipped topping
  •   2-1/2 cups blueberries
Preparation:
Using 4 parfait glasses, place ¼ cup blueberries, followed by 2 tablespoons vanilla pie filling and 2 tablespoons whipped topping in each glass.
Repeat layers until glasses are full. Reserve 1/2 cup blueberries. Cover parfaits and chill in refrigerator until serving time, or you can serve them immediately. Top with reserved blueberries. Healthier Version: Use sugar -free vanilla pudding or any sugar-free flavor and lite whipped topping.  Makes 4 servings.
twitter
=============
isdh/owh_logo